Category Manager — Produce (Procurement)

About Talpa Supermercados

Talpa Supermercados is a fast-growing grocery retailer committed to delivering fresh, high-quality products at competitive prices while providing exceptional service to our communities. As we continue to expand, we are seeking an experienced Category Manager — Produce to lead sourcing, pricing, and performance of one of our most critical departments.

Position Summary

The Category Manager — Produce is responsible for the strategic sourcing, vendor management, pricing, and profitability of the Produce category across all store locations. This role drives sales growth, margin optimization, shrink reduction, and supply continuity while ensuring high-quality standards and competitive pricing.

This position partners closely with Store Operations, Distribution, Supply Chain, and Finance to align purchasing strategies with overall company objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Category Management

• Develop and execute the Produce category strategy aligned with revenue and margin targets
• Analyze sales trends, seasonality, shrink, and customer demand patterns
• Manage assortment planning and SKU optimization
• Lead promotional planning and seasonal programs

Procurement & Vendor Management

• Negotiate pricing, terms, rebates, and volume agreements
• Source domestic and international suppliers
• Maintain strong vendor relationships
• Evaluate vendor performance (quality, service levels, fill rates)

Financial Performance

• Drive gross margin improvement
• Monitor cost of goods and pricing structures
• Partner with Finance on forecasting and budgeting
• Manage category P&L performance

Inventory & Shrink Control

• Develop inventory strategies to minimize spoilage
• Monitor warehouse and store shrink trends
• Collaborate with Distribution on freshness and logistics efficiency

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Operations on execution standards
• Support new store openings
• Assist in private label development (if applicable)
• Support food safety and quality compliance initiatives
• Collaborate with Supply Chain, CPFR, Quality, and Operations to align forecasting and replenishment

Leadership

• Coach and mentor sourcing analysts or junior buyers
• Share best practices and continuous improvement initiatives across teams

Travel Requirement

• Up to 10% travel to stores, distribution centers, grower locations, and vendor meetings

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in grocery retail procurement (Produce strongly preferred)
• Experience negotiating with growers, distributors, or wholesalers
• Strong understanding of produce seasonality and pricing volatility
• Advanced Excel and data analysis skills
• Ability to travel as needed
• Bilingual Spanish/English required

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in Hispanic grocery or perishable retail environments
• Logistics or supply chain certifications (APICS, CPM, Six Sigma)
• Experience with warehouse management or routing systems

Key Competencies

• Negotiation and vendor management
• Retail financial acumen
• Data-driven decision making
• Inventory and shrink control
• Cross-functional leadership
• Market awareness of commodity pricing trends

Why Join Talpa?

• High-impact role in a critical revenue-driving category
• Opportunity to influence company-wide strategy
• Collaborative, growth-oriented environment
• Expanding organization with advancement opportunities